Mobile Technology

LG challenges Samsung with the G Flex curved screen smartphone

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LG's G Flex smartphone display follows the contour of the face
The G Flex features a rear-key design first seen in the company's G2 smartphone, with a power button in the middle of a volume rocker
LG's G Flex smartphone display follows the contour of the face
The LG G Flex has a 6-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution P-OLED display, features a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and includes a 3,500 mAh curved battery
The LG G Flex at CES 2014
The LG G Flex at CES 2014
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It looks like LG and Samsung are at it again. Both companies were vying for our attention at CES 2013 with simultaneous "world's first" curved OLED television announcements. LG consistently led in the race to the consumer space, and looked liked being first to move the screen format onto smartphones with the announcement earlier this month of its plans to mass produce flexible OLED phone displays. Samsung had other ideas, however, and the Galaxy Round was launched just a few days later. LG has now caught up with the forthcoming release of its slightly larger G Flex smartphone, featuring a curved display that follows the contour of the face.

Arcing the G Flex smartphone's display vertically brings the microphone closer to a user's mouth when held against the ear, which, according to LG, increases the volume at the mic by 3 dB (when compared to typical flat-screened phones). The company is also making similar IMAX-like immersive landscape video viewing claims to those which accompanied the release of the curved televisions.

The G Flex sports a 6-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution P-OLED display, which sees the display and panel built on plastic substrates instead of glass. Real RGB technology has been incorporated – where red, green and blue subpixels are all contained in one pixel – for a brighter and more precise onscreen image.

A 2.26 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor runs the show, with a 450 MHz Adreno 330 GPU, 2 GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 32 GB of eMMC storage (with a microSD slot for expansion) making up the supporting cast. The device tips the scales at 6.2 oz (177 g), and its 3,500 mAh curved battery, which was developed by sister company LG Chem, is reported to provide more than a full day's use.

The LG G Flex has a 6-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution P-OLED display, features a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and includes a 3,500 mAh curved battery

The 6.3 x 3.2 x 0.31 - 0.34 in (160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9 - 8.7 mm) device features a 13 megapixel camera with LED flash at the back and a front-facing 2.1 MP webcam. The LED pulses to indicate face detection or timer countdown. The rear-key design first seen in the G2 has also been included, with a power button in the middle of a volume rocker, and the company has applied a special scratch-resistant coating on the back to help keep the device looking like new for longer.

The latest member of LG's G smartphone family runs Android 4.2.2, and features a refreshed UX that has a function called Q Theater which gives users access to content direct from the lock screen, and allows the display to be divided into two separate windows for multi-tasking.

The smartphone is LTE-capable, packs Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, and features NFC technology. It is also capable of Hi-Fi quality 24-bit/192 kHz audio playback.

The LG G Flex starts its journey into the back pockets of consumers in Korea next month, before being rolled out to other markets.

Source: LG

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4 comments
Nairda
Quite like the possibility of having curvature to a phone, but never subscribed to the idea of making phones flexible.
Horizontally and vertically curved rigid screens are the compromise. Having a phone that only touches the ground on its points, and making those points hard wearing is the way to go.
Of course this is a solution to the Phablet problem, right before business shirt companies ramp up on shirts with giant pockets or dare I say Pouches?!? Maybe one in the centre like a Kangaroo...for those future 10" phones.
willemco
I have doubts about the usefulness of a curved phone. Curved horizontally or vertically. Personally I use my phone quite frequently while it's lying down on its back. I had never issues with the microphone of my Galaxy S3. Maybe on a much larger phobe (Galaxy Note 3?) it could be an issue but I still doubt that. But using a curved phone while its lying down will make that almost impossible. I think I'll stick with the conventional straight screen and I bet the curved screens will never become popular. Just a gimmick. Maybe it can lure away a few fan boys who are traditionally more after looks than practicality. ?.
Dziks
this is some joke! useless and causing problems marketing idea. What if you press on the phone while it is lying on the table? It will break on 2 pieces. I really cannot see any profit (like technological progress) in introduction of this phone to the market except wheedle more money out of people fooled with commercials. "G Flex" - is it really flexible?? If I bend it and it breaks can I get my money back?? outrageous...
Rule1
I don't get why people are getting bent out of shape about this idea. I think subtle curviture of the phone will be better for calls, as well as more ergonomic in general. It will also probably bode well for fitting such a large phone in my front pants pocket. Plus, as shown by samsung, the curviture opens up the door for a new level of intereactivity. Need to check your messages real quick? Just tilt the phone towards you and it will automatically pull them up. I'm sure there are other options but thats all I've got at this point lol.